Steam-motor



(No Model.) I 3"'SheetVs-Sheet 1. E. A. EDWARDS.

4 STEAM MOTOR.

No. 505,350. Patented Sept. 19, 1893.`

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. A. EDWARDS. STEAM MOTOR.

No. 505,350. Patented sept. 19. 1893.

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 3.

B. A. EDWARDS.

STEAM MOTOR.`

J0 e c we' Z 9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR A. EDWARDS, or CINCINNATI, oIIIo.

VSTEAM-Moron.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters iPatent No. 505,350, dated September 19, 1893. Appleman filed June 9, 18951. serai No. 477,076.` (No mode.;

To a/ZZ w/wm t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR A. EDWARDS, a citizen of' the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use-` sists in the various features of construction and arrangement of parts, having the Inode of operation substantially as hereinafter described. Y

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a longitudinal, vertical section of a motor embodying my invention. Fig. 2, is an elevation of the wheel, with the heads of the case, carrier and one of the stationary disks, removed. Fig. 3, is an enlarged view of a portion of the same. Figs. 4, and 5, are enlarged detail sectional views, showing the balancing devices; andFig. 6, is a side view of the carrier.

One of the main objects of the invention of a motor of this character, is to produce a motor which shall be relatively exceedingly small, compact, simple and cheap, and which shall have comparatively great efficiency, and in order to do this, it is necessary that the motor operate at an exceedingly high rate of speed. It is well known that any body rotating at a high rate of speed, in order to operate effectively, without injury or excessive wear, requires to be exceedingly well balanced, and the more nearly a perfect balance of the rotating parts is attained, the more satisfactory are the results. III constructing a motor of the class described, I first provide a practically perfect mechanical balance to theV .rotating portion, so that the tendency to get out of balance, or to vibration, or other disarrangement, is reduced to the smallest extent possible. It is found, however, that even with a practically perfect balance, while rotatin g at a high rate of speed, under the press-` lonly one and one-half thousandths of an inch,

and thenecessity of not only a perfect mechanical balance, but a perfect fluid pressure balance to the rotating portion, will be apparent, and it is one of the principal objects of my present invention to provide means whereby the motor fluid pressure shall operate to automatically maintain a practically perfect steam balance of the rotating parts,v

so that under all conditions of operation, the rotating parts will not come in frictional contact with the stationary parts, and the greatest efficiency and least wear are attained.

In the presentapplication, I have illustrated and will now proceed to describe the construction and arrangement of parts of what I consider to be a practically perfect embodiment of my invention, but it `will be understood that the details of construction and arrangement can be varied by those skilled in the art, to suit the various purposes to which my invention` is applied, Vwithout departing from the general principles thereof, and I do not, therefore, limit my invention to the construction and arrangement illustrated, or the use specifically set forth.

The motor shown in the drawings is provided with a suitable casing, forming an internal chamber, in which the operative parts of the motor or engine are inclosed, and I have shown this casing as consisting of the heads 1, 2, united by a ring or short cylinder portion 3, the parts being secured in any suitable way, as by bolts 4E. In order to support the motor, lthe ring or cylindrical portion of the case is provided with a suitable base 5, by which the motor may be supported in any proper position. The heads 12, are ext-ended laterally in opposite directions to form bearings 6, 6, through which passes a shaft 7, suitable bearing sleeves 8, being interposed be- IOO tweentheshaftandbearingsintheheads. The head 2, is provided With a suitable inlet 10, for the steam or other motor iiuid, and from this inlet there is a passage 11, extending to an annular recess 12, for distributing steam or motor tiuid, in the manner hereinafter set forth. This head is also provided in the present instance with an .extension or ring 13, against which one of the stationary plates bears, forming a steam-tight joint.

The operative parts of the engine consist, substantially as indicated in the patent before referred to, of two plates which are tixedly mounted Within the chamber of the case, the adjacent faces of which are provided with a series of annular recesses or grooves, and a propelling Wheel or wheels suitably mounted to rotate Within the space between the stationary plates, and having its two faces similarly grooved orrecessed to correspond With the grooves in the fixed plates.

i The fixed. plates 14 and 15, `may be mounted in various Ways, and I have shown aconvenient, simple and effective means of mounting V them,.in which the plate le, is provided with a hub 16T -having lateral extensions one of which is screw-threaded at 17, and secured in the head 2, while the other end is screw-threaded at 18, and receives and formsasupport for the fixed plate 15. In this way, both plates are securely held in their proper position within the chamber, the hub 16, supporting the plate 14, which is preferably integral with the hub, and the plate 15, which is mounted thereon. The hub is provided with a series of passages 19, extending from the annular chamber l2, parallel to the shaft, where they meet radial passages 20, opening into what may be termed the lsteam chest7 2l. While more or less passage-ways may be made, in the presentinstance I have shown a large number to furnish a free conduit for the steam from the annular chamber to the steam-chest.

Suitably mounted on the shaft 7, is a support or carrier 3l, for the propeller Wheel 30, and I have shown it as consisting of a plate having a hub provided with a tapering opening adapted to lit closely upon the tapering portion 9, of the shaft '7, it being preferably vheld in place by a suitable nut or other equivalent means. This carrier is provided with a laterally extending ange 32, having a radially extending rim or fiange 33, to which the propeller Wheel 30, is secured in any suitable way. In the present instance, I have shown the rim or. flange 33, as having lugs or plates 34, fitting an extension 35, on the wheel 30, being secured thereto by suitable bolts 36, while the tiange is cut away between the lugs or plat-es, as at 37, furnishing a free passage for the exhaust steam into the exhaust chamber 38. l Suitable openings 39 are formed in the carrier to preserve the steam balance.

The faces of the propeller Wheel are provided with suitable grooves, and the adjacent faces of the stationary plates are provided with similar grooves, as fully set forth in my rings, the rings b, being complete, while theV rings c, are made up of sections or segments having grooves d, between the segments, the grooves being shown at an angle to the radial lines of the wheel. The adjacent faces of the stationary plates are provided with simi-k lar grooves e, e', the., separated by complete rings,f,f, and segmental rings g g,`the segments being separated in turn by angular grooves corresponding to the grooves in the propeller Wheel. and plates correspond in position and are at the same regular distance from their axles, While the complete rings on the wheel correspond with the segmental ringsin the plates, and the complete rings in the plates correspond with the segmental rings in the Wheel. From this arrangement of the rings and grooves on the propeller Wheel and fixed plates, it Will be seen that the steam from the steam chest 21, linds a series vof passages to the exhaust chamber, and these passages are formed by the complementary grooves and rings. The steam first acts upon the inclined faces of a series of segments in the wheel, exerting a tendency of rotation by the impact of the steam, and then similarly on the inclined faces of a series of segments in the plates, tending to rotate the wheel by-reaction, so that thel wheel is under a tendency to rotate both fronithe impact of the steam upon the segments of the wheel, and the reaction of the steam npon the segments on the stationary plates.

As intimated in my prior patent, the Wheel and fixed plates are so formed and adjusted that there is a certain amount of clearance between their adjacent faces, which in practice varies within certain limits, preferably being about one and one-half thousandths of an inch on each face of the wheel, when in operative condition, due allowance-being made in setting up the engine, for the expansion of the metal.

One of the mainfeatures of my present invention is to provide means to maintain this clearance and to so arrange the devices that it shall be automatically maintainedfby the pressure of the steam, and thus provide a perfect fluid pressure balance to the rotating portion of the motor, as hereinbefore pointed out. In the present case, I have shown a means which I have found exceedingly effective in accomplishing theseresults, and I provide what I term broadly a valve 40, which is arranged to control the passage of the steam from the steam-chest 21, tothe grooves and passages in the faces of the pro- The grooves in -the Wheel Y IOO IIO

of the valve between the edges of the ringA and the walls of the stationary plates.

In order to producethe proper balancing effect, it is necessary that the steam which passes through one of the ports or passages, as 41 for instance, should pass through the grooves in the opposite plate and the face of the wheel adjacent thereto. Thus, for instance, the steam passing through the passage or port 41, should act on the grooves in the plate 14, and the adjacent face of the wheel, and the steam passing through the port or passage 42, should act on the grooves and segments of the plate 15 and the adjacent face of the propeller wheel, and in order to permit this, it is necessary to provide suitable passages through the propeller wheel from side to side. These transverse passages 50, 51, are shown as 'being formed in opposite sides of the propeller wheel, extendingr partially therethrough, in axial lines, with their ends curved upward, opening into the spaces d, of the wheel, and in order to have a free and even distribution of the steam, I preferably form grooves 53, 54, in opposite sides of the wheel with which these passages connect.

In Fig. 4, I have shown these transverse passages as being formed in the separate and independent steam passage ring 55, mounted on the propeller Wheel, between the inner periphery thereof and the Valve 40, and while under some circumstances, this is a preferable construction, it is evident that the passages can be` formed integral in the ring, as shown in' Fig. 5, and it is further evident that the valve itself may also be formed integral secured to the wheel in any suitable way, as

by forcing it in tightly, where it is held by friction, or by using set screws, or other means, and the inner periphery thereof is preferably screwfthreaded, as shown at 56, and the outer periphery of the valve 40 is similarly screwthreaded, so that the valve ring can be accurately and delicately adjusted in proper position, and be secured by any suitable device, as the screws 44, and in this way, an exceedingly accurate adjustment may be readily attained. When, however, the valve ring and transverse steam passage ring are formed integral with the wheel, it is only necessary that they be accurately turned and adjusted, so as to not only maintain the mechanical balance of the wheel, but to permit a .perfect steam balance, allowing the passage of the steam through both ports in absolutely equal quantities, so that thesteam balance will be maintained under all conditions. As above intimated, the steam passage ring 55, may be formed integral with the wheel, and the valve ring may. be independent and adjustable thereon in the manner shown in Fig. 4, it being immaterial as far as its adjustment is concerned, whether the steam passage ring is integral with the wheel or not. The valve, instead of being a single ring, may be made in two portions, each adjustable, as shownin the lower portion ot' Fig. 4.

As above indicated, there is a certain amount of clearance between the propeller wheel and the stationary plates, and this per-` mits a certain proportion of the steam to pass directly between the wheel and plates, so as to form what may be termed a steam cushion, and as the steam, for instance, passes through one of the ports, as 42, a portion ,of it will pass directly up between the wheel and the stationary disk 14, whilethe bulk will pass through the transverse passages 50, into the grooves in the opposite side of the wheel, and in the stationary disk 15. Thus it will be seen that there is always more or less steam passing directly from the ports to the clearance space on the same side of. the propeller wheel, sufficient to maintaina practical steam cushion. From this construction it will be understood how the steam `balance is maintained automatically, and it is only necessary to state that the steam from the steam-chest 21, passes through the ports 41, 42, on either side of the valve, a portion going directly'to the clearance space, formingthe steamfcush-` ion, while the bulk passes throughthe' corresponding passages 50, 51, to the grooves in the stationary disks and the adjacent surfaces of the wheel, and it will be seen that if an equalamount of-steam passes through both ports, the wheel will be maintained in proper balance. t If, however, from any cause, less steam passes through one of the ports, as for instance, port 41, an excess of steam will pass through the opposite port, as42, and

4thence passing through the passages 50, will exert an increased pressure between the stationary plate 15 and the adjacent side of the wheel, and tend to force it toward the port 42, thereby closing or tending to close said port, and to open the port 41, until a point of equilibrium is reached, when the steam shall pass in equal quantities through both ports, and act with equal force on both sides of the propeller wheel and the respective stationary disk. It will be observed that these conditions are controlled automatically, and the tendency of the wheel is always to maintain itself in perfect balance with relation to the stationary disk, and any disturbance of that balance, from any cause, increases this tendency, and aids in restoring the balance.

-While I have thus explained the principle of my present invention, and have illustrated various ways of embodying it in practice, it

will be evident that the details of construction and arrangement of parts maybe varied ICO IZO

to satisfy the various conditions of operation, Without departing from the principles set forth, and my invention is not limited in its broad sense, to any one of the constructions shown.

What I claim is- 1. A motor, comprising stationary plates and a rotating wheel between the plates, the wheel and plates having grooves in their adjacent faces, a steam chest supplying steam to said grooves, and a valve on the wheel arranged to change its position in the steam chest to automatically vary the relative dimensions of the ports, in accordance with the relations of the stationary plates and rotating wheel, substantially as described.

2. A motor, comprising stationary plates, and a rotating wheelvbetween the plates, the Wheel and plates having grooves in'their adjacent faces, the wheel having transversely crossing steam passages, a steam chest supplying steam to said grooves, and a valve on the Wheel arranged to change its position to automatically vary the relative dimensions of the ports, in accordance with the relations of the stationary plates and rotating wheel, substantially as described.

3. A motor, comprising stationary plates and a rotating wheel between the plates, the wheel and plates having grooves in their adjacent faces, and the wheel having transverse steam passages arranged to conduct the steam across the wheel to the grooves, substantially as described.

4. A motor, comprising stationary plates and a rotating wheel between the plates, the wheel and plates having grooves in their adjacent faces and arranged to havea clearance betweenthe wheel and plates, a steam chest supplying steam to said grooves, transversely crossing steam passages, and a valve in the steam chest, the arrangement being such that l a portion of the steam passes directly to the clearance space from the ports, while the bulk of the steam passes through the transversely crossing steam passages to the opposite side of the wheel, substantially as described.

5. A motor, comprising stationary plates and a rotating wheel between the plates, the Wheel and plates having grooves intheir adjacent faces, and a ring connected to the wheel having transversely crossing steam passages, substantially as described.

6. A motor, comprising stationary plates and a rotating wheel between the plates, the wheel and plates having grooves in their adjacent faces, transversely crossing steam passages, and a valve adjustably connected to the wheel, arranged to change its position in the steam chest, to automatically vary the dimensions of the ports in accordance with the relations of the stationary plates and rotating wheel, substantially as described.

7. A motor, comprising stationary plates and a rotating wheel between the plates, the wheel and plates having grooves in their adjacent faoes, a ring provided with transversely crossing steam passages connected to the wheel, and a valve ring connected to said steam passage ring, substantially as described.

8. A motor, comprising stationary plates and a rotating wheel between the plates, the wheel and plates having grooves in their adjacent faces, a carrier having a projecting flange provided with lugs to which the Wheel is connected, and having cut-away portions between the lugs for the passage of the eX- haust steam, substantially as described.

9. A motor, comprising stationary. plates and a rotating wheel between the plates, the wheel and plates having grooves in their adjacent faces, a carrier having projecting lugs, (the said wheel having a radial eXtension,) and means for connecting the lugs of the carrier and the radial extension of the wheel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR A. EDVARDS.

Witnesses:

F. L. FREEMAN, ALLE W. DoBsoN. 

